Drop bottom mine car



June 16, 1936.

H. W, SANFORD DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR 5 SheetSSheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1951 @NON MNO

INVENTOR.

ATToEY June 16, 1936. H. 'w. SANFORD DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR 5 sheetsisheet 2v IN V EN TOR.

Filed Dec. 8, 1951 ATT RNEY June T16, 1936., H W SANFORD 2,044,019

' DROP BOTTOM MINE GAR Filed Deo. 8, 1951 f5 sheets-sheet s me i6, 1936. H W SANFORD DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed DEQ. 8, 1951 June 16, 1936. H. w. SANFORD .DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR Filed Deo. 8, 1951 '5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented June 16, 1936 i UNTED S'i FA'ENT GFFICE 57 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to an improvement in drop bottom mine cars, of the type in Which the doors are suspended very close to the track in order to get the maximum capacity, and are released for dumping the load.

In such mine cars, the door releasing mechanism is controlled from the rear of the car, and in the releasing mechanism usually employed heretofore, the doors were successively released from the rear toward the front, the rear door, the middle door and front door being successively released in the order mentioned.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel and improved mechanism for controlling the release of the doors successively from front to rear instead of from rear to front, or in any desired order, and which releasing mechanism is controlled from the rear of the car.

A feature of this door releasing mechanism is the means for compounding the door releasing function by longitudinal movement of side bars, by which the door supporting means'moves further for releasing purposes than the actuating means which causes the release.

The side bars used to control the releasing of the doors actuate an auxiliary member which, by being moved by the side bars, releases the door and permits it to drop.

Another feature of this invention is the disposition of the side bars above the bottom level of the side sills, where they are protected from blows and derailment, etc. The side bars are preferably located inside the side sills, where they can not receive blows from without, although they may be located outside the side sills, but above 'the lower edges thereof, in order to be fully protected.

The invention may also comprehend a door hinged from a moving hinge bar, which bar also supports the edge of the adjacent door. This hinge bar may be fastened to the control side bar to be moved thereby. In this combination, there is a compound releasing motion which permits a successive release of the doors from front to rear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View through a complete car embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of a portion of a side sill. and showing a portion of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through the rear portion of the car;

Fig. 4 is a similar View through the front portion of the car;

(Cl. 10S-253) Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view von the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similar View on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a similar View on the line 1 1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a Vertical section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a similar View on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional View showing a modification in the support of the doors;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional View therethrough on the line |2 I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional View through the rear portion of a car, showing a further modiication in the support for the doors;

Fig. 14 is a similar view of the front portion of the same; and

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional View through the side sill and control bar thereof.

A represents the track rails supported upon the usual cross ties Ai, and which rails A receive the car Wheels B, mounted on axles C and CI, the axle C being the forward axle, while the axle Ci4 is the rear axle.

The car body is designated D and is provided with the usual side sills DI connected together by end sills D2, and which are adapted to support the'bumpers of the car. The axles C and CI pass through the side sills and have the Wheels applied thereto on the outer sides of the sills in a well known manner. The axle C has fillers C2 bearing against and supported upon the upper side thereof, and over these fillers C2 is a hood plate C3, Which is secured to the fillers C2 by rivets Cd and extends transversely between the side sills DI.

As shown in Figs. 4, 6 and '7, the hood plate C3 has lateral anges C5 at the opposite ends thereof, which are secured to the inner faces of the side sills D! by rivets C6.

v. The axle Ci has fillers Cl bearing against the upper portion thereof, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and a hood plate C8 extends over the axle Cl and the fillers Cl, and is of approximately inverted V-shape in cross section, with the apex at the top and forming a hood over the axle Cl.

The opposite ends of the hood plate C8 have flanges Cs which are riveted to the side sills DI by the rivets Citi. Yokes CH straddle the axle Ci and fillers Cl and are secured in place by bolts or rivets C12, which pass through the arms of the yokes and through one side of the hood plate C8. One of the arms of each of the yokes CII is also secured to the other side of the hood plate C8 by rivets CI3. The yokes CII have depending eyes CM, for a purpose which will be hereinafter referred to. I

Arranged between the side sills DI are drop bottom doors E, which are shown as three in number, and each of which is hinged at its forward edge and is releasably supported at its rear edge to be dropped for releasing the load from the car.

The doors are consecutively numbered from front to rear of the car I, 2, 3. The door I is provided with hinge straps E4 at its forward edge, which are secured thereto and extend about a hinge rod E5 at the forward ends of the side sills DI. 'I'he middle door 2 has a hinge strap E6, which is connected by a hinge plate El with one side of the hood plate C3. The rear door 3 has a hood strap E8 which is connected by hinge pins E9 with the eyes C-i of the yokes CI I. The forward edges of the doors are thus hingedly supported between the side sills DI.

The means for releasing the rear edges of the doors will now be described.

It is desirable to release the doors for dropping successively from front to rear in I-2-3 relation. To provide this, side bars F are arranged on inner sides of the side sills DI and above the lower edges of the side sills, as shown in Figs. 5 to 9, being supported by lugs FI, which are riveted to the under faces of the side sills by rivets F2, and which support the side bars F for longitudinal sliding movement.

For supporting the rear edge of the door I and to release the same, the side bars F have openings F3 in their forward ends into which trunnions F4 extend. The trunnions F4 are carried on bars F5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, which bars F5 are riveted to the rear side of a pendulum plate F6, the upper edge of which is hinged as at F1 to the forward edge of the hood plate C3. The pendulum plate F6 carries a forwardly extending oblique lla-nge forming a lip F8 at its lower edge to engage under the rear edge of the door I and to support the door.

By reason of the supporting of the edge of the door I by the lip F8, carried by the swinging pendulum F6 and having its edge at a lower point than the trunnions F4, which connect the pendulum F6 with the actuating side bars F, the movement of the supporting portion of the lip F8 horizontally is greater than the horizontal movement of the side bars F which operate the pendulum F6.

To support the middle door 2, the side bars F have laterally extending brackets F9, which project inwardly in the path of the rear edge of the door 2 to engage under the edge of the door and support the same. These brackets F9 are riveted to the inner sides of the side bars F and extend approximately parallel with the lip FB when the latter is in supporting position.

The rear ends of the side bars F have inverted U-shaped brackets xed thereto, or formed integral therewith, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, and

Lugs GI extend forwardly from the rod G and are pivoted to toggle links G2, which are in turn pivotally connected with the arms FII of the bracket FIG by means of a pin G3 which extends through the toggle links G2 and the arms FII.

As shown in Flg. 2, the toggle links G2 straddle the arms FII and the lugs GI. The rod G also carries lugs G6 intermediate its ends and to which toggle links G5 are pivotally connected and .extend upwardly to an actuating lever G5, which lever is pivoted as at G? to a bracket G8 secured to the end of the body D.

The opposite end of the lever GG .extends laterally beyond the side of the car body D into position to be engaged by the usual cam A3 at the tipple for releasing the doors E. Any other suitable means found desirable may be used for actuating these side bars, instead of that shown.

A plate D3 extends downwardly and forwardly from the rear end of the car to cover the actuating means for the side bars F.

By reason of the compounding or" the leverage between the side bars F and the supporting edge for the door I, while the doors 2 and 3 are supported by brackets xed to the side bars F, the bottom doors E will be released in the I-2-3 order, which is the reverse of that heretofore ordinarily provided, but the order of dumping of doors 2 and 3 will be determined by the respective laps between these doors and their supporting brackets.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1l and 12, the side sill is shown at H and the axle at HI, the latter being covered by a hood plate H2 of inverted V-shape, which extends between the side sills I-I and is secured thereto by flanges H3 and rivets H4 extending through the flanges H3 and the side sills. The side bars H5 are spaced above the lower edge of the side sill H, and the doors shown in Fig. 11 are the doors 2 and 3.

A pendulum H5 is suspended from the hood plate H2 by hook-Shaped hinges H7, which are hooked into slots H3 in the hood plate H2. The lower ends of the hinges HI are fixed to the back side or" the pendulum plate HS as by rivets.

The lower end of the pendulum plate HS carries an oblique flange forming a supporting lip H9, which engages under the rear edge of the door 2. The door 3 is hinged as at HI8 to the rear side of the pendulum H5. the backward movement or" the pendulum plate H.

In this form of support, the door 3 is suspended from a moving hinge, which if; controlled by the movement of the side bar H5, and which side bar also controls the release of the door 2 and the door I at the front of the car. The pendulum plate therefore not only controls the release of the door 2, but it also supports the door 3 by means of a hinge. This provides a compound release motion which permits the doors to be released for dropping successively from front to rear` in I-2--3 relation, and suitable latch mechanism other than that described above should be used for the rearward door to permit of that relation in the order of dropping.

In the form shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15, the doors are designed to be simultaneously released. In this form, the doors 2 and 3 are hinged, and the doors I and 2 supported, all as shown as applied to the doors 2 and 3 in 3, and the same reference characters are applied in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 to designate the parts as are used in Fig. 3. In this form of the invention, when the side bars A stop Hl: limits lli) F are moved longitudinally of the side sills DI, the lugs F9 simultaneously release the doors I and 2, and the door 3 is released approximately simultaneous therewith,y or slightly before the release of lthe doors l and 2. This provides an improved manner of controlling the release of the doors over the relation heretofore employed, where doors were released in 3-2-l relation.

The free edges of the doors are released successively in 3-2-I order, in which order they begin to drop, but instead of fully dropping for discharge of the coal, the doors are'supported above the track until the forward door is over the tipple opening and is then free to drop completely for full discharge,` and the other doors then follow the same action in `succession. By compounding of the leverage of the latching means for the forward doors, the latter is fully released to drop by a slight downward movement of the rearward door through an arc of approximately twelve degrees, or before its free edge passes below the lowest point of the frame structure of the car. By the reference in the claims to the successive dropping in I-2-3 order, is intended the dropping of the doors to pendant positions, ordinarily lower than the track, for discharge of the lading.

It is a feature of this invention that the door release mechanism is so located that it will not be subject to damage when a car is derailed. The side bars and their operating mechanism are located above the bottoms of the side sills and are protected thereby. The side bars may be made sufciently wide so as to reach above the tops of the axle and may be supported by the axles instead of by the lugs, if desired. The arrangement of the door mechanism, the release mechanism and the operating mechanism, provided by this invention is such that the axles o-f the car can be removed therefrom without disturbing these mechanisms. l

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors hinged about transverse axes, latching means for the free edges of the doors, and a longitudinally movable member disposed above the lower edge of the frame structure for controlling the release of the latching means and having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door, for releasing the doors for dropping successively from front to rear.

2. In a dumping car, the combination of wheel and axle means, frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors hinged about transverse axes, latching means for the free edges of the doors, and a longitudinally movable member disposed above the lower edge of the frame structure and below the horizontal plane of the top of the axle means for controlling the release of the latching means and having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the'forward door, for releasing the doors fro-m dropping successively from front to rear of the car.

3. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, forward and rearward -drop` bottom dumping doors hinged about transverse axes, latching means for the free edges of the doors, anda longitudinally movable member disposed above the lower edge of the frame structure for controlling the release ofthe latching means in-v dependent of any endwise movement of the doors, said member having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door for releasing the doors for dropping successively from front to rear of the car.

4. In a dumping car, the combination of wheel and axle means, frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors hinged about transverse axes, latching means for the free edges of the doors, and a longitudinally movable member disposed above the lower edge of the frame structure and below the horizontal plane of the top of the axle means for controlling the release of the latching means independently of any endwise movement of the doors, said member having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door for releasing the doors for dropping successively from front to rear of the car.

5. In a dumping car, the combination ofvcar axles, frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors having portions normally below the horizontal plane of the tops of the ,car axles, latching means for the freeedges of the doors, and a longitudinally movable member disposed above the lower edge of the frame structure for controlling the release of the latching means and having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door for releasing the forward door for dropping before the free edge of the rearward door has passed the lowest point of the frame structure.

6. In a dumping car, the combination of car axles, frame structure, forward andy rearward drop bottom dumping doors, latching means for the free edges of the doors, and a longitudinally movable member below the horizontal plane of the tops of the car axles, and above the lower edge of the frame structure for controlling the release of the latching means independent of any endwise movement of the doors, said member having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door for releasing the forward door for dropping by the time that the free edgeof the rearward door has passed the lowest point of the frame structure.

7. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors hinged about transverse axes, latching means for the free edges of the doors, and releasing means for the latching means and having a longitudinally movable member above the lower edge of the frame structure, said member having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door, for releasing the doors for dropping successively from front to rear.

8. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors, side sill members, latching means for thefree edges of the doors disposed between the side sill members, and releasing means for the latching means and having a longitudinally movable member above the lower edge of the frame structure, said member having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door and so coordinated with the release of theY latching means for the rearward door to release the forward door for dropping by the time that the free edge of the rearward door has passed below the lowest point of the frame structure.

9. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, wheels and axles fo-r the frame structure, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors, means for hingedly supporting the forward Vedges of said doors about transverse axes,

latching means fork the free rear edges of the doors, and means for controlling the release of the latching means and having one or more longitudinally movable side bars above the lower edge of the frame structure, said side bars having a compound leverage connection with the latching means for the forward door, and so coordinated with the release of the latching means for the rearward door to release the forward door for dropping by the time that the free edge of the rearward door has passed below the lowest point of the frame structure.

10. In a mine car, the combination of frame structure, rear, middle and front drop bottom doors, means for hingedly supporting the forward edges of the doors, latching means for the rear edge of the front door and having compound leverage action, latching means for the middle and rear doors, and longitudinally movable unitary actuating means above the lower edge of the frame structure for all of said latching means causing release of the latching means and dropping of the doors successively from front to rear of the car.

11. In a mine car, the combination of frame structure. rear, middle and front drop bottom doors, means for hingedly supporting the forward edges of the doors, latching means for the rear edge of the front door and having compound leverage action, latching means for the middle and rear doors, and one or more longitudinally movable side bars above the lower edge of the frame structure connected with all of said latching means to release the latching means.

12. In a mine car, the combination of frame structure, rear, middle and front drop bottom doors, means for hingedly supporting the forward edges of the doors, latching means for the rear edge of the front door and having compound leverage action, latching means for the middle and rear doors, one or more longitudinally movable side bars above the lower edge of the frame structure connected with all of said latching means to release the latching means, and causing dropping of the doors to points below the tracks sucoessively from front to rear of the car.

13. In a mine car, the combination of frame structure, rear, middle and front drop bottom doors, means for hingedly supporting the forward edges of the doors, latching means for the rear edge of the front door and having compound leverage action, latching means for the middle and rear doors, and one or more longitudinally movable side bars above the lower edge of the frame structure connected with all of said latching means to release the latching means and causing dropping of the doors successively from front to rear of the car.

14. In a dumping car, the combination of car axles, frame structure, a drop bottom dumping door having portions normally below the horizontal plane of the tops of the car axles, a swinging member for engaging a free edge of said door, and a longitudinally slidable member above the lower edge of the frame structure connected with said swinging member between the point where the door is supported by the swinging member and the point of support of said swinging member for actuating said swinging member.

15. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, a drop bottom dumping door, a swinging member for engaging a free edge of said door to support the same, and a longitudinally slidable member between the side sills, above the lower edges thereof and connected with said swinging member between the point where the door is supported by the swinging member and the point of support of said swinging member for actuating said swinging member upon horizontal movement.

16. In a dumping car, the combination with au axle, and a hood covering the same and rigidly fixed to the car, of a swinging pendulum suspended from the hood for swinging movement relative thereto longitudinally of the car, and a forward door having a free edge in position to be supported by the pendulum.

17. In a dumping car, the combination with an axle, a hood covering the same and rigidly fixed to the car, of a swinging pendulum suspended from the hood and movable relative thereto, a forward door having a free edge in position to be supported by the pendulufn, a rearward door, a fixed support therefor, and a longitudinally movable side bar pivotally connected with the swinging pendulum for actuating the same.

18. In a dumping car, the combination with an axle, of a hood therefor, a ller interposed between the hood and axle, a yoke embracing the axle and ller, means for securing the yoke in place, and a drop bottom dumping door pivotally supported by the yoke outside the upright plane of the axis of the axle.

19. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, a dumping door, locking means mounted on pivot means other than an axle for said door, means rigidly fastened to one or more side sills for supporting said pivot means, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said locking means, the adjacent edges of the doors being unable to contact with each other.

20. In a dumping car, the combination of a forward dumping door, pivotally mounted locking means for said door, and a rearward door having an edge pivotally supported by said locking means, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the rearward door in one direction will create a locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the forward door when in its closed position, the free edge of the forward door being unable to contact with the pivoted edge of the rearward door.

21. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, a dumping door, locking means mounted on pivot means other than an axle for said door, means rigidly fastened to one or more side sills for supporting said pivot means, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said locking means, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the second door in one direction will create a locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the rst door when in its closed position, and whereby movement of the second door in the opposite direction will release the locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the first door when in locked position, the adjacent edges of the doors being unable to contact with each other.

22. In a dumping car, the combination of a plurality of drop bottom dumping doors, a pivotally supported pendulum having latching engagement with one door, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said pendulum, and the edges of the two doors being unable to contact with each other.

23. In a dumping car, the combination of a plurality of drop bottom dumping doors, a pivotally supported pendulum having a forwardly extending lipy for latching engagement with a forward door, and a rearward door having an edge pivotally supported by said pendulum, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot'of the rearward door in one direction creates a locking engagement between the pendulum and the free edge of the forward door when in closed position.

24. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, a plurality of drop bottom dumping doors, a pendulum pivotally supported by means other than a car axle and having latching engagement with one door, means rigidly fastened to the side sills for supporting said pendulum, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said pendulum, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the second door in one direction creates a locking engagement between the pendulum and the free edge of the first door when in closed position, and whereby movement or" the second door in the opposite direction will release the locking engagement between the pendulum and the free end of the rst door when in locked position, the adjacent edges of the doors being unable to contact with each other.

25. In a dumping car, the combination of a plurality of drop bottom dumping doors, a pivotally supported pendulum having latching engagement with one door, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said pendulum, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the second door in one direction creates a locking engagement between the pendulum and the free edge of the rst door when in closed position, and whereby movement of the second door in the opposite direction will release the locking engagement between the pendulum and the free edge of the rst door when in locked position, and a longitudinally movable side bar for controlling the action of the pendulum.

Y 26. In a dumping car, the combination of a plurality of drop bottom dumping doors, a pivotally supported pendulum having latching engagement with one door, and a second door having-an edge pivotally sup-ported by said pendulum, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the seoond door in one direction creates a locking engagement between the pendulum and the free edge of the rst door when in closed position, and whereb-y movement of the second door in the opposite direction will release the locking engagement between the pendulum and the free edgeV of the lirst door when in locked position, and a longitudinally movable side bar pivotally connected with the pendulum for causing swinging movement thereof to release the first door, said side bar being adapted to control the release of the second door.

27. In a dumping car, the combination of a plurality of drop bottom front and rear dumping doors, a pivotally supported pendulum having latching engagement with the front door, and the rear door having an edge pivotally supported by the pendulum, said pivot for the rear door being at a point above the point of engagement of the pendulum with the front door, whereby the endwise motion of the rear door is compounded for releasing the free edge of the front door.

28. In a dumping car, the combination of a plurality'of drop bottom front and rear dumping doors, a pivotally suppo-rted pendulum having latching engagement with the front door, and the rear door having an edge pivotally supported by the pendulum, said pivot for the rear door being at a point above the point of engagement of the pendulum with the front door, whereby the end- Wise motion of the rear doorAis compounded for releasing the free edge of the front door, and a side bar for controlling the release of said doors whereby the doors* are released for dropping successively from front to rear of the car.v

29. In a drop bottom dumping car, the combination of a door, a longitudinally slidable side bar. and a bracket supported by the side bar and projecting into the path of the Ydoor for supporting a free edge thereof,v said bracket having the supporting face thereof arranged obliquely of the side bar.

3o. In a drop bottom dumping car, the combination of car axles, frame structure, one or more drop bottom dumping doors, and a longitudinally slidable side bar for controlling therrelease of the dump-ing doors, and disposed above the lowermost portion of the frame structure and below the horizontal plane o1 the tops of the car axles.

3l. In a drop bottom dumping car, the combination of a frame structure having side sills, of one or more drop bottom dumping doors,v and a side bar for controlling the release of the doors and disposed on the inside of the side sills above the lower edge thereof in protected position.

32. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, a drop door, a support Vfor the free edge of the door and having a lip| for engaging thereunder, and longitudinal side-barreleasing mechanism above rthe lower edge of the frame structure having -an approximately horizontal movement to release the door when said horizontal movement is less than the horizontal width of the lip. y

33. In a dumping car, the combination of frame structure, a drop door, a hinged support for the free edge of the door and having a lip for engaging thereunder, and horizontally, longitudinally movable releasing mechanism above the lower edge o f the frame structurerconnected with the hinged support to release the door when the vhorizontal movement thereof is less than the horizon- Vtal width of the lip.

34. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, axles, a drop door,pendulum door hinge means for the drop door, and means rigidly fastened to the side sills for supporting said hinge means, said hinge means being disposed wholly beneath the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills, and being disposed Wholly at one side of an upright plane through the center of the adjacent axle.

35. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, axles, a plurality of drop doors, pendulum door hinge means therefor, and means rigidly fastened to the side sills for supporting said hinge means, the hinge means for the -rearmost door being other than an axle and being disposed Ywholly beneath the horizontal plane of the tops said locking means rigidly fastened to the side sills, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said locking means, the adjacent edges of the two doorsV being unable to contact with each other, said pivots being disposed beneath the horizontal plane of the tops'of the axles and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills and the bottom-portions 'of said v locking means being above the'horizontal plane of the bottoms ofthe side sills.

y37,'In a dumping car; thev combination with side sills, an axle, and a hood therefor rigidly xed to the side sills, of a swinging pendulum suspended from the hood for swinging movement relative thereto longitudinally of the car, a forward door having a free edge in position to be supported by the pendulum, a rearward door, and a pivot therefor other than the axle and disposed beneath the horizontal plane of the top of the axle and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills.

38. In a dumping car, the combination with side sills, and an axle,-of a drop door, a swinging pendulum for supporting the free edge of the door, a pivot other than the axle for supporting the pendulum, said pivot being below the horizontal plane of the top of the axle.

39. In a dumping car, the combination with side sills, and an axle, of a drop door, a swinging pendulum for supporting the free edge of the door, a pivot other than the axle for supporting the pendulum, said pivot being below the horizontal plane of the top of the axle, and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills.

Y 40. In a dumping car, the combination with side sills, axles, and a hood therefor, of a swinging pendulum pivotally suspended from the hood for swinging movement longitudinally of the car,

Vand a door having a free edge in position to be supported by the pendulum, the pivot for the pendulum being disposed below the horizontal plane of the top of the axles and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills.

41. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, axles, forward and rearward drop doors, pv-

otal supporting means therefor rigidly fastened to the side sills, the pivot for the rearward door being other than an axle and being closely associated with an axle and extending across from one side sill to the opposite side sill, and means for releasing by longitudinal movement the free edge of the forward door, said supporting means and releasing means having the lowest portions thereof above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills.

42. In a dumping-car, the combination of side sills, axles, forward and rearward drop doors, pivotal means for the forward door, a pivot bar other than the axle for pivotally supporting the rearward door, said pivotal means and said pivot bar being rigidly fastened to the side sills, said pivot bar extending entirely across between the side sills, and means for releasing by longitudinal movement the free edge of the forward door, said pivot bar and releasing means having the lowest portions thereof above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills.

43. In a dumping-car, the combination of car side structure, axles, forward and rearward drop bottom doors, hinge means therefor, pendulum means having a support rigidly xed tothe car side structure for supporting the hinge means, the hinge means for the rearward door being disposed above the horizontal plane of the bottom of an axle and being closely associated with an axle, and being above the horizontal plane of the lower edge of the side structure, and means for releasing by longitudinal movement the free edge of the forward door and having the lowest portions thereof above the horizontal plane of the bottom of the side structure.

44. In a dumping car, the combination of car side structure, axles, forward and rearward drop bottom doors, pivots therefor, pendulum means having a support rigidly xed to the car side structure for supporting said pivots, the pivot for the rearward door being other than an axle and being closely associated with an axle, and means for releasing by longitudinal movement the free edge 0f the forward door, said releasing means and the pivot for the rearward door being disposed below the horizontal plane of the top of the axle and above the horizontal plane of the bottom of the car side structure.

45. In a mine or similar rail car, the combination of a drop door supported at its forward end by transverse hinge means, a rearward end sill member having an approximately upright wall, a xed rearward end lading body wall forward of and separated from said sill member, toggle latch mechanism pivotally secured to the car structure forward of the sill member, and projecting forwardly from the sill member beyond the upright end lading body wall to act as supporting means for the free end of the drop door, and upwardly movable means cooperating with said latch mechanism for shifting said mechanism from its door supporting position.

46. In a mine or similar rail car, the combination of a drop door transversely hinged at its forward end, a rear end lading wall, side lading walls, a sill member spaced rearwardly of the end lading wall, door supporting toggle latch mechanism having at least portions thereof forward of the upright plane of the end lading wall and other portions thereof rearward of said plane, transverse latch bar means above said door supporting latch mechanism and extending outwardly beyond a side lading wall, latch operating means connected with said latch bar means, and

extending downwardly in the space between the end lading wall and the sill member, and cooperating with an intermediate portion of the door supporting latch mechanism whereby an upward movement of the latch operating means moves the latch bar means to release the latch mechanism from its door supporting position.

47. In a mine or similar rail car, the combination of a drop door transversely hinged at its forward end and releasably supported at its rearward end, side lading walls, a lading body end wall rearward of the rear end of the drop door, toggle latch mechanism supporting the rear end of said door and having links pivoted together, tripping means connected with the pivoted portions of the links of said latch mechanism and which trips said latch mechanism and releases the door for dropping, said tripping means extending upwardly at the rear of portions of the forward upright face of the end lading wall, and transverse latch bar means extending outwardly beyond a side lading wall and cooperating with said tripping means whereby the latch bar means is moved when the tripping means is shifted vertically.

48. In a dumping car, the combination of a dumping door, locking means mounted'on pivot means other than an axle for pivotally supporting said door, and a second door having an edge supported by said locking means, and the edges of said doors being unable to contact with each other.

49. In a dumping car, the combination of a dumping door, locking means mounted on pivot means other than an axle and having bodily arcuate movement for pivotally supporting said door, and a second door having an edge supported by said locking means, and the edges of said doors being unable to contact with each other.

50. In a dumping car, the combination of a dumping door, locking means for said door, said locking means being mounted on pivot means other than an axle, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said locking means, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the second door in one direction will create a locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the first door when in its closed position, and whereby movement of the second door in the opposite direction will release the locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the first door when in locked position, the adjacent edges of the two doors being unable to Contact with each other.

51. In a dumping car, the combination of a dumping door, locking means for said door, said locking means being mounted on pivot means other than an axle and having bodily arcuate movement, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said locking means, whereby a horizontal movement of the pivot of the second door in one direction will create a locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the first door when in its closed position, and whereby movement of the second door in the opposite direction will release the locking engagement between the locking means and the free edge of the rst .door when in locked position, the adjacent edges of said two doors being unable to contact with each other.

52, In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, axles, a drop door, door hinge means for the drop door, said hinge means being disposed below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills, and being disposed wholly at one side of an upright plane passing through the center of the adjacent axle, a second drop door having a free edge adjacent the hinged edge of the firstmentioned door, the adjacent edges of said doors being unable to contact with each other, and releasable latch means for supporting and securing the free edge of the second drop door, the hinged edge of the first-mentioned door being so disposed that when the rst door falls its hinged edge has no direct or indirect tendency to operate the latch means for the free edge of the second door.

53. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, axles, a plurality of drop doors, door hinge means therefor, the hinge means for the rearmost door being other than an axle and being disposed beneath the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles, and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills, and being disposed wholly at one side of an upright plane passing through the center of the adjacent axle, the adjacent edges of the doors being unable to contact with each other, latching means for the doors mounted for latching movement longitudinally of the car, the hinged edge of the rearward door being so disposed that when said rearward door falls its hinged edge has no direct or indirect tendency to operate the latching means for the free edge of the forward door, and means other than the rearward door for operating the latching means for the forward door.

54. In a dumping car, the combination of side sills, axles, a dumping door, pivotally mounted locking means for said door, and a second door having an edge pivotally supported by said lock- 10 ing means, said pivots being disposed below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles, and above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills, and the bottom portions of said locking means being above the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the side sills, and said doors being mounted so that adjacent edges thereof are unable to contact with each other.

55. In a dumping car, the combination with a hinged door, of a pendulum, means other than a car axle pivotally supporting said pendulum in position to hang approximately vertically from said supporting means in door supporting position, said pendulum having a supporting lip and pivotally mounted for swinging movement of the lip relative to the free edge of the door, said lip having an inclined supporting surface so arranged that the weight of the door tends to swing the pendulum out of supporting relation therewith.

56. In a dumping car, the combination with a 30 drop bottomdumping door, of a pendulum, means other than a car axle pivotally supporting said pendulum in position to hang approximately vertically from said supporting means in door supporting position, said pendulum having a supporting lip thereon, means mounting the pendulum for swinging movement of the lip relative to the free edge of the door, said lip having' an inclined supporting surface so arranged that the weight of the door tends to swing the lip out of 40 supporting relation therewith,

57. In a dumping car, the combination of wheel and axle means, side sills supported thereby, forward and rearward drop bottom dumping doors, latch means for the forward door including a pendulum, means other than a car axle pivotally supporting said pendulum in position to hang approximately vertically rom said supporting means in door supporting position, said pendulum having a supporting lip thereon in position to engage a free edge of said door, means mounting the pendulum for swinging movement of the lip toward and from the free edge of the door, said lip having an inclined supporting surface so arranged that the weight of the door tends to swing the lip out of supporting relation therewith.

HUGH W. SANFORD. 

